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Evaluation of drug–drug interaction screening software combined with pharmacist intervention

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Abstract

Background Drug-drug interactions (DDI) in hospitalized patients are highly prevalent and an important source of adverse drug reactions. DI computerized screening system can prevent the occurrence of some of these events. Objective To evaluate the impact of drug–drug interaction (DDI) screening software combined with active intervention in preventing drug interactions. Setting The study was conducted at General Hospital of Vitória da Conquista (HGVC), Brazil. Method A quasi-experimental study was used to evaluate the impact of IM-Pharma, a locally developed drug–drug interaction screening system, coupled with pharmacist intervention on adverse drug events in the hospital setting. Main outcome measure The proportion of patients co-prescribed two interacting drugs were measured in two phases, prior the implementation of IM-Pharma and during the intervention period. DDI rates per 100 patient days were calculated before and after implementation. Risk ratios were estimated by Poisson regression models. Results A total of 6,834 instances of drug–drug interactions were identified; there was an average of 3.3 DDIs per patient in phase one and 2.5 in phase two, a reduction of 24 % (P = 0.03). There was a 71 % reduction in high-severity drug–drug interaction (P < 0.01). The risk for all DDIs decreased 50 % after the implementation of IM-Pharma (P < 0.01), and for those with high-severity, the reduction was 81 % (P < 0.01). Conclusion The performance of IM-Pharma combined with pharmacist intervention was positive with an expressive reduction in the risk of DDIs.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank undergraduate students Ludmila Tavares, Jessica Bomfim, Luana Costa and Priscila Porto for their participation in collecting data and Andre Barboni and his team from State University of Feira de Santana who collaborated in the development of the DDI screening software.

Funding

This work was supported by the Bahia State Research Foundation (FAPESB).

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Bahia, Vitória da Conquista, Brazil

    Cristiano S. Moura, Nília M. Prado & Najara O. Belo

  2. Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Francisco A. Acurcio

Authors
  1. Cristiano S. Moura
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  2. Nília M. Prado
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  3. Najara O. Belo
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  4. Francisco A. Acurcio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristiano S. Moura.

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Moura, C.S., Prado, N.M., Belo, N.O. et al. Evaluation of drug–drug interaction screening software combined with pharmacist intervention. Int J Clin Pharm 34, 547–552 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-012-9642-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-012-9642-2

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